The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-27
XLIXth CONCRESS--SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 70.
Among the bills reported and placed on
the calendar was one by Mr.. Miller from the
committee on agriculture creating depart
ment OF government to be known as the de-
partment Of agriculture.
Messrs. Hoar, Frye and Pugh were APP
pointed committee Of conference on the
act relating to contested elections Mr..
H0ar offered an amendment to the rules
reading, AS soon as quorum shall appear
prayer shall be offered by the chaplain and
the journal shall then be read" He said
the object OF the proposed change was to
secure the presence Of a quorum of the
Senate before prayer Is offered by the chap
lain. If the Senate proposed to continue
prayers they should be done decently and
with decOrum. The spectacle of divine
service in the Senate Chamber with one, two
or three Senators present ought not longer to
be continued. Referred to the committee on
rules.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution reported yesterday by Mr.
Hoar, instructing the committee on privileges
and elections to investigations made by three
residents of Washington county, Texas, as to
their being driven from their homes, COM
PEELED to abandon their property and de-
prived of the right Of suffrage in that county
Mr.. Coke opposed the resolution ON the
ground that the matter was local with the
State Of Texas, and beyond the jurisdiction
Of Congress.
Mr. Edmunds advocated the resolution.
Mr. Eustis, member Of the elections com
mittee opposed it as "waying Of bloody shirt
little in advance of the usual season." Ii
was simply proposition to make political
capital.
Mr.. Hawley advocated sss resolution; The
question was not one, he sad ,ssiaiss tie
Senate was at liberty to consider or to set
aside as it choose The power to make the
proposed investigation was not only un-
questioned but irresistible.
MIR. Evarts, member of the committee, sus-
fQinQd the rQQOlntinp and qrOupd there COuld
be no better time than the present for max
Ing the investigation.
Mr.. Call opposed the resolution as an at
tack ON the very life Of government and
American Institutions. The vote was then
taken and the resolution was adopted-yeas,
The Senate then at $50 o'clock resumed
consideration of the bill to establish an
agricultural experiment station in connection
with agricultural colleges established under
the act of July 2, 1862.
After long discussion, and the Offering OF
and voting on a large number OF amendments
Mr.. Hawley offered substitute for the bill
and on his motion the bill and substitute
were ordered printed and the matter went
over till tomorrow.
The railroad attorney bill was then taken
up, and Mr. Berry obtained the floor to dis
cuss it, but the Senate Immediately at 4.35
o'clock, on motion Of Mr.. Edmunds, went
into secret session. At 5.45 o'clock the
NcSAo WCAO AScl~AASA oAAN e-Ne~S%.sNNN ~NJ~"@HT
ed.
HOUSE.
The speaker laid before the House a letter
from the Secretary of the Treasury submit
ting the estimates Of the Secretary Of the
Interior of an appropriation to meet the
expenditures required by the Mexican pen
sion bill. Referred. The Secretary OF the
Interior estimates that $4,G63, 104 will be re-
duired for the first yearly payment Of PEN
sions, and asks for an. appropriation Of
S257, ,0o0 for an increased clerical force.
The Senate fisheries bill having been laid
before the House, on motion OF Mr.. Belmont
of New York 1t was referred to the commit
tee on foreign affairs
Mr.. Bragg of Wisconsin submitted the
conference report upon the army appropria-
ti0n bill and it was agreed to.
The House then went into committee OF
the whole on the river and harbor appropri-
alton bill.
Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota offered the fol-
lowing amendment as a substitute for the
entire bill; That the sum of S7,500000 is
hereby appropriated which may be expend-
ed by the board of engineers and four engi-
neers now senior in the service, either for
repair, preservation, construction or com
pletion Of such public Improvements OF
rivers and harbors as shall in their Judgment
afford practical and important facilities by
water Of Interstate commerce.
A long and somewhat heated debate fol-
lowed and then the subject substituted was
agreed tO-yeds, l4Os nays, zf Inc cOm-
mittee then rose and reported to the House,
whereupon the substitute was rejected, 179
to 40.
The original bill was then ordered en-
crossed and read the third time-yeas, 143;
nays, 81; and the previous question was
ordered on the final passage of the bill.
Mr.. Hepburn demanded reading of the
engrossed copy, and, as the bill had not
been engrossed. the House, at 5.15 o'clock.
adjourned.
The bill win come up for final action to-
morrow.